Messenger of Venus

Antique Seashell Brooch with Diamonds and Pearl in Gold, Vienna, c. 1880

€ 3,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Antique Seashell Brooch with Diamonds and Pearl in Gold, Vienna, c. 1880

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

Like roses and doves, so seashells and pearls are also attributes of Venus, the goddess of love: she is said to have been born from a shell, which is why she is called the "foam-born". This scene was also captured on canvas by Sandro Botticelli. In his masterpiece, he depicted Simonetta Vespucci, the most beautiful woman in Florence, as the goddess of love**,** emerging from a shell in a shower of flowers. The present piece of jewellery is based on this idea and was created at a time when the knowledge of mythology and art history was part of the education of the higher classes. A sculpted shell opens up to the viewer. It is designed in the so-called archaeological style and appears in rich, luminous gold with a richly textured surface. Rose-cut diamonds sparkle at the top of the shell. A silvery, rose-cut pearl shines in the center of the shell. It is a saltwater cultured pearl, probably from the South Seas. Its slightly baroque shape forms an organic contrast to the symmetry of the design. The brooch is of beautiful, heavy quality and, according to its design and motif, was created at the end of the 1870s or the very beginning of the 1880s. This is also confirmed by the Viennese gold hallmark, which was only used between 1872 and 1922. The pearl was replaced at a later date. The brooch reached us here in Berlin. It was originally made in Vienna; at a later date it reached Hungary, as other hallmarks show. Where might its next journey take it?

Size & Details

Messenger of Venus

€ 3,490.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

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Messenger of Venus

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